At a glance
| Bifrost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main users | People in China | People outside China | People in China and abroad |
| Works in mainland China | Yes | Not accessible | Yes, listed in local stores |
| How you meet new people | Mostly contacts you already know | Mostly friends, mutual friends, and groups | Recommendations by country and interests, connect after mutual light-up |
| Translation | Translate individual messages | Translate posts | One-tap translation of messages and posts |
| Best for | Staying in touch with Chinese contacts | Staying in touch with people abroad | Making new cross-border friends, language exchange |
Can foreigners use WeChat?
You can sign up, but it is of limited use for meeting people. Registering with a non-Chinese phone number sometimes requires an existing WeChat user to verify you. More importantly, WeChat is built around contacts you already know, so if you do not know anyone in China, there is no one to talk to.
Can you use Facebook in China?
Facebook is not accessible in mainland China, so very few people in mainland China use it. If you are abroad and hoping to meet Chinese friends on Facebook, you will struggle to find them.
How Bifrost fills the gap
- Both sides in one app: available in mainland China app stores and on the App Store and Google Play elsewhere.
- Recommendations by country: pick the country or region you want to meet and see real people with match scores.
- Mutual light-up: a chat starts only when both light each other up within 12 hours.
- One-tap translation: messages and community posts translate instantly.
- 25 countries and regions: including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Which one should I use?
| What you want | Use |
|---|---|
| Message Chinese friends or colleagues you already know | |
| Keep in touch with friends and family outside China | Facebook or your local app |
| Meet new people in China, practice Mandarin | Bifrost |
| Meet foreigners from inside China, practice English | Bifrost |
FAQ
Is there a social app that both Chinese people and foreigners use?
Yes. Bifrost is a cross-border social app built to connect users in China with users abroad. It works in mainland China, is on the App Store and Google Play elsewhere, and translates messages with one tap.
Is Bifrost trying to replace WeChat or Facebook?
No. WeChat and Facebook are for people you already know. Bifrost is for meeting new people across borders who would otherwise never be in the same app.