TikTok vs Reel: A Quick Comparison
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions for the upcoming year to try a new platform or app to see what it’s all about?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this detailed comparison between TikTok and Reel, two of the biggest names in the industry.
From the design to the functionality, find out everything you need to know about these two mighty platforms so you can make the right decision for yourself.
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Design
The design of TikTok is simple but effective.
The thumbnail previews, which are displayed in a slightly larger size than the original video, give you a good idea of what the video will be like before you even click to watch it.
The black background with white letters gives the app a clean, minimalistic look, and the orange and blue colour scheme add a bit of zing to the design.
There’s also a minimalistic symbol on the corner of the thumbnail preview which represents the number of likes the video will get.
Reel, on the other hand, tries a bit harder with its design.
The app has a darker, edgier look to it, which is represented by the bold orange and blue color scheme used in the thumbnail previews.
The background is a mosaic of colorful tiles, which adds a fresh new look to the app.
Regarding the overall design, both apps feature a similar minimalistic look with a focus on functionality and engaging the audience.
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Features
Even though both apps are focused on video content, they handle the function very differently.
On one hand, you’ve got TikTok, which is all about sharing short-form original content.
On the other, you’ve got Reel, which is all about creating long-form content with an emphasis on original storytelling.
As a result, the two platforms are fairly distinct, but they do share some common features.
The most basic function of both apps involves sharing or uploading videos.
After you’ve uploaded the video, you can share it with your followers on TikTok, and you can also share a link to the video on Reel.
Another similarity between the two apps is that they allow for video editing.
Both apps let you trim, crop, and rotate your video footage before you upload it to your channel.
You can also overlay text on your video, add music, and change the overall look of your video with filters included in both apps.
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User Interface (UI)
One of the most important factors to consider when comparing two apps is the user interface (UI).
As a user, how easy is it to navigate and get around within the app?
Does it feel intuitive, or is it a mess of icons and navigation bars that you’ll have to memorize?
These are among the things you need to ask yourself, and we’ve got the answers right here.
TikTok’s interface, which is also its biggest selling point, is made up entirely of servable panels.
These are essentially slide-out menus that appear at the bottom of the screen when you click on a video thumbnail or an image on a blog post.
These menus enable you to choose from various actions you can perform on the video or blog post, including liking, commenting, sharing, or viewing the complete content.
The panels are neatly arranged and display simple, attractive icons that are relevant to the content you’re engaged with.
The overall design and functionality of the app are very polished, and it feels good and intuitive to use.
Reel, on the other hand, takes a different approach with its user interface, opting for a minimalistic, text-based layout.
It’s a simple, clean page with a dark background, which makes it easier to read the content.
A search bar at the top of the page enables you to find content easily as you scroll through the page.
The search bar on Reel is positioned above the fold, so it’s always visible to the user when they visit the site.
It’s a simple but effective design that makes it easy for anyone to find what they’re looking for.
In terms of overall functionality, both apps have similar features and work in a similar way.
However, one advantage of Reel has its intuitive and easy-to-use navigation bars in the header, which makes it much easier for users to get around.
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Content Moderation And Safety
One of the biggest concerns for any social media user is the risks posed by strangers and imposters.
As a content creator, you’re responsible for the content you create and the messages it conveys.
This means that you alone are held accountable for the opinions and ideas you espouse.
You may not agree with everything you see on social media, but the simple fact is you’re the only person connected to your profile, so you’re the only one who can remove or edit the content you create.
TikTok is one of the biggest and most popular apps worldwide, and it’s held in high regard because of its emphasis on moderating content.
From a safety and security standpoint, it strives to keep its users happy by removing or protecting them from content that might cause discomfort or alarm.
To do this, the company employs a team of content moderators to review all incoming data.
The moderators look for anything that breaks the rules or potential violates community guidelines.
If a video or blog post is flagged as inappropriate or threatening in any way, the creators will be notified and told to take care of the situation as soon as possible.
Reel, too, vets its content before it’s made available for the public.
This means that even though you might not be comfortable with your identity being shared online, you’re still at risk of seeing your content potentially shared by people you don’t know.
Before a video is made available to the public, it goes through a rigorous approval process.
First, the content has to be reviewed by a team of professional journalists to ensure it’s of high quality.
This involves checking for grammatical errors and making sure the content is engaging and interesting.
Next, the producer has to attach a disclaimer alerting users that the content is fictional and cannot be taken as factual news.
If any user has a problem with this policy, they can email media@reel.com to have the content removed.
Additional Notes
One of the things that make these two apps distinct is that they focus on different niches.
While TikTok is well-known for its short-form content, Reel creates long-form content, typically about current events and popular culture.
This is why you might see a lot of political videos on TikTok, while Reel is more likely to feature lifestyle content and product reviews.
In addition, the demographics on each app are also fairly distinct.
According to TikTok, 80% of its users are between the ages of 18 and 24, while Reel reports that its user base comprises 55- to 64-year-olds.
TikTok is available on every major mobile and tablet platform, and it’s even accessible on a range of connected devices, including TVs and laptops.
It’s also one of the most popular apps in the Google Play Store, with more than 600 million downloads.
It’s currently available in more than 200 countries across the world, and it was recently named one of the top 100 apps globally by Google.
If you’d like to try it out, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store.
Reel, on the other hand, is only available on iOS and Android, and it can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
If you’d like to try it out, you can download the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
