A TikTok clone is topping the charts by paying users to watch videos

Zynn topped iOS charts in the US by offering cash rewards and gift cards

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A user’s brick-breaking stunt seen on the Zynn app. (Picture: Zynn)

Published: 9:40pm, 28 May 2020Updated: 11:34pm, 28 May 2020

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

TikTok might still be dominating the download charts in the US, but it’s now facing some competition. Users have recently rushed to download a different short video app that looks almost identical to the popular Chinese app.

The app is called Zynn, and it comes from the company behind Kuaishou, the main competitor of TikTok’s Chinese version. After being released earlier this month on iOS and Android, Zynn recently soared to the top of the iOS App Store in the US, ranking first in the entertainment category and second among all apps on Thursday.

If you’re familiar with TikTok, then you already know how Zynn works. You browse user-generated video clips through endless vertical scrolling. Even the layout of the like and comment buttons look similar.

But Zynn’s sudden popularity isn’t just because people can’t get enough short videos. The app has been offering users cash rewards and gift cards, which the app says are only available to users in the US and Canada. Simply by watching videos or inviting at least five friends to the app, Zynn users can gather points that can be converted into a cash balance.

Some users have managed to successfully cash out with PayPal, according to tutorial videos uploaded to YouTube. According to a video posted by the channel Tech Hustler, the reviewer was able to withdraw US$120 in three payments before Zynn switched to offering gift cards. The app cited “technical difficulties” with cash withdrawals because of “higher than expected traffic”.