Source-backed analysis6
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.
6 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Zhihu Review
China's large Q&A platform, built for Chinese-language readers
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Zhihu is a well-rated Chinese-language Q&A platform (4.7/5 from over 1.7 million China App Store ratings) with columns, Live sessions and AI tools. Outside China, note the Chinese-only interface, the mainland phone-number requirement, broad data collection for ads and data being subject to Chinese law.
Best for: Chinese readers wanting in-depth Q&A on careers, study, tech and daily life
Skip it if: Anyone who cannot read Chinese; the app lists Chinese as its only language
Pros
- China App Store rating of 4.7/5 from over 1.74M ratings, latest update November 4, 2026
- Membership prices are clearly published on the official page, with monthly, quarterly and annual options
- Tools to view collected-data lists, download a data copy, turn off personalized ads and request deletion
Cons
- Chinese-only interface; registration needs a mainland phone number for real-name rules
- Collects a lot of data for recommendations and ads, including the installed-app list, device IDs and approximate location, even in the background
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- In-app AI assistant AI 看山 for summarising long posts and follow-up questions
Cons
- The free tier shows ads on the launch screen, in feeds and in search
- Anonymous posting ended in July 2023, and in March 2018 regulators ordered app stores to remove it for 7 days
Best for
- People who want varied viewpoints on topics trending in Chinese-speaking communities
Skip it if
- People unwilling to give a mainland phone number or accept content rules under Chinese law
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
Zhihu (知乎) is a Chinese-language Q&A platform. According to Wikipedia it launched on January 26, 2011, founded by Zhou Yuan, Li Shenshen and Huang Jixin, and listed on the NYSE on March 26, 2021 and the Hong Kong exchange on April 11, 2022. Its privacy guide states a mission of helping people share knowledge, experience and insights.
Users read and post questions, answers, short posts, video, articles and columns, with voting, comments, private messages and following. The App Store description presents AI 看山, which summarises long posts, pulls out key points and helps with follow-ups, while Wikipedia records the Zhida AI search product launching on June 29, 2024.
Reading is free and ad-supported; 盐选 (Yan Select) member content is paid. The official page lists ¥25 a month, ¥68 a quarter and ¥238 a year, cheaper with auto-renewal (¥19 a month or ¥198 a year). Points to weigh: Chinese-only, mainland-number registration and broad data collection for recommendations and ads.
Compared with Quora, Zhihu serves the Chinese-speaking community and adds columns, books and Live sessions in its membership. Both rely on user-written content, so quality varies. Readers who cannot read Chinese will find Zhihu much harder to use.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
Reading, asking and answering are free and the app is a free download. Per the privacy guide, ads appear on the launch screen, in feeds, at the end of posts and in search. Without registering you only get a browse-only mode with partial content.
盐选会员 (Yan Select)
PersonalCN¥25/mo/user
CN¥19.90/mo billed yearly
Per the official membership page: monthly card ¥25, quarterly ¥68, annual ¥238 (shown as ¥19.9 a month). Auto-renewing plans are cheaper: ¥19 a month, ¥53 a quarter, ¥198 a year. New customers get ¥10 off, with a first month from ¥9. Benefits listed: premium columns, Live sessions, online books and magazines and community perks; member content is read in the Zhihu or 盐言故事 apps.
- Free plan limits
- Core Q&A is free; payment unlocks member content such as columns, books and magazines.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pricing page only says auto-renewing plans can be cancelled anytime and links help for disputed charges; a refund policy could not be verified.
Privacy
Per Zhihu's Personal Information Protection Guide (version 5.2, updated October 10, 2025, effective October 15, 2025), registration and login require a mainland China phone number under real-name rules; you can sign up with email or an overseas number but will later be asked for a mainland number in some situations, and refusing leaves only a browse-only mode. For recommendations and ads, Zhihu collects browsing history, device information, IP address, device IDs, the installed-app list and approximate location, including while the app runs in the background. Some features, such as live streaming, withdrawals and account recovery, require real-person verification with an ID number and face recognition. Users can view the list of collected information in settings, turn off personalized content and ad recommendations (the number of ads stays the same), download a copy through the Privacy Center and request deletion at [email protected]; Zhihu says it responds within 15 working days. Data collected in China is stored in China and falls under Chinese law.
Zhihu alternatives
8.1/10Wikipedia
The free, ad-free encyclopedia written and maintained by volunteers
6.8/10A vast forum of 100,000+ topic communities, from news to niche hobbies
Frequently asked questions
Is Zhihu free?
Yes, asking and reading answers is free, with ads. 盐选 member content is paid: ¥25 a month or ¥238 a year per the official page, less with auto-renewal.
Can I register for Zhihu from outside China?
The policy says you can register with email or an overseas phone number, but after login Zhihu will ask for a mainland number in some situations under real-name rules. If you refuse you only get browse-only mode.
Does Zhihu have Vietnamese or English?
The App Store lists Chinese only; no Vietnamese or English interface was found.
How do I delete or download my data?
Per the policy: see the collected-information list in settings, request a copy through the Privacy Center (personal information download) and request deletion by emailing [email protected]. Account cancellation is done from the in-app help and customer-service section.
Review evidence & sources6
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.5
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 7.0
- Performance
- 7.0
- Support
- 6.0
- Privacy & security
- 4.5
Why this score
4.7/5 from over 1.74M China App Store ratings; barriers are the Chinese-only UI and mainland-number registration.
Why this score
Q&A, short posts, video, columns, Live, books, AI tools and a content membership.
Why this score
Q&A is free but ad-supported; membership is ¥25 a month or ¥238 a year, discounted on auto-renewal.
Why this score
High ratings and a recent update (version 11.14.0 on November 4, 2026); no independent performance data.
Why this score
An app feedback email ([email protected]), an in-app help and customer-service section, the official 知乎小管家 account and a privacy email; support is Chinese-only.
Why this score
Data view, download and deletion tools and a personalized-ads opt-out exist, but collection for ads is very broad (including the installed-app list, even in the background), real-name verification with a mainland number is mandatory and data falls under Chinese law, so it scores below Quora.
What users say
- App Store (China)4.7/5 · 1,741,640
- App Store (US)4.5/5 · 26,294
Sources
- Vendor-providedZhihu Personal Information Protection Guide (v5.2)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedZhihu Yan Select membership pageNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (China)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: ZhihuNov 10, 2026
- storeApple iTunes lookup API record for Zhihu (version, languages, release date)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
Change history
- Update.Personal Information Protection Guide version 5.2 takes effect (updated October 10, 2025).
- Feature.Zhihu launches Zhida, an AI search product.
- Feature.Zhihu discontinues anonymous posting; earlier posts are unaffected (Wikipedia gives July 2023).
Full change history (7)
- Company.Shares begin trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
- Company.Zhihu lists on the NYSE.
- Update.The Cyberspace Administration of China orders app stores to remove Zhihu for 7 days.
- Launch.Zhihu officially launches, founded by Zhou Yuan, Li Shenshen and Huang Jixin.
About the author
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