Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
UpScrolled is a real independent social network, but it is not simply a TikTok replacement. Operated by UpScrolled B.V., the platform combines text, photos, video, topic-based feeds, profiles, messaging and reposting. It gained major attention after TikTok’s January 2026 U.S. ownership change, when some users began looking for alternatives focused on privacy, independence and user-controlled feeds.
It may be worth testing alongside other social networks, especially for users interested in a smaller platform. But its user-growth figures are largely company-reported, creator monetization is still described as planned, and its content ecosystem is not yet comparable to TikTok’s mature short-video network.
What is UpScrolled?
UpScrolled is a user-generated social-media platform operated by UpScrolled B.V. Users can create profiles, publish text, photos and videos, follow accounts, comment, like, repost and share content, communicate through chat, and browse posts by topic.
The company presents UpScrolled as an independent alternative to large technology platforms. Its messaging emphasizes privacy, freedom of expression, transparent moderation and chronological or user-controlled feeds. In practical terms, however, it is best understood as a multi-format social network—not a one-to-one TikTok clone and not a news organization. UpScrolled’s FAQ says users, rather than the company, are responsible for the content they publish.
#1 Best Overall
- Universal unlocked. Compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and other prepaid carriers.
- Super-bright, super-smooth 6.7" display. See your screen clearly even outdoors in sunlight, and enjoy seamless views with a fast-refreshing 120Hz display.*
- AI-powered camera system. Take stunning photos in any light with the 50MP camera**, look your best with a 32MP selfie cam*****, and capture extreme close-ups.
- Superfast 5G performance. Unleash your entertainment at 5G speed*** with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM with RAM Boost****.
- Long-lasting battery + TurboPower charging. Power through day after day with a 5200mAh battery, then get hours of power in just minutes.****
Why did UpScrolled become popular after TikTok’s sale?
The January 2026 U.S. ownership transition involving TikTok created renewed concerns about data privacy, political influence, moderation and control of the platform. Some TikTok users began searching for alternatives, and UpScrolled was promoted as an independent, privacy-focused option.
That attention produced a sharp increase in downloads. TechCrunch, citing Appfigures, reported roughly 41,000 downloads between the Thursday the deal was finalized and the following Saturday—nearly one-third of UpScrolled’s lifetime installs at that point.
UpScrolled later said it had grown from about 40,000 users to more than one million and had reached No. 1 among free apps in the U.S. App Store. Its founder, Issam Hijazi, subsequently said the service had passed 2.5 million users. These are company or founder claims, not independently audited active-user figures. Downloads, registered accounts, monthly active users and retained users are different measurements.
Who founded UpScrolled?
UpScrolled was founded and is led by Issam Hijazi. The company and media coverage describe the platform as a response to concerns about censorship, concentrated platform power and the treatment of marginalized or Palestinian voices online.
Those statements explain the founder’s stated motivation; they should not be treated as independent proof that UpScrolled’s moderation decisions consistently produce a particular political outcome. The platform’s actual rules and enforcement processes matter more than its promotional description.
What can you do on UpScrolled?
The current U.S. App Store listing documents a growing set of features, including:
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Creating a profile and publishing text, images and videos.
- Following accounts and interacting through likes, comments, reposts and sharing.
- Chat and messaging.
- Topic-based discovery, including topics such as News and Money in the current iOS listing.
- Sharing profiles through QR codes and account handles.
- Choosing whether uploaded videos can be downloaded.
- Disabling autoplay.
- Continuing audio from other apps while browsing, where supported.
- Uploading media without granting unnecessary camera or microphone permissions.
- Stripping metadata from uploaded images, according to the app’s update notes.
Features can differ by operating system, country and app version. The App Store listing is evidence of documented iOS functionality, not a guarantee that every feature works identically on Android or the web.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →UpScrolled versus TikTok
| Area | UpScrolled | TikTok |
|---|---|---|
| Core identity | Multi-format social network | Short-form video discovery platform |
| Content | Text, images, video, topics and social interaction | Primarily short-form video, with additional formats |
| Feed philosophy | Company emphasizes chronological or user-controlled feeds | Highly personalized recommendation feed |
| Discovery | Profiles, topics and feeds | A mature recommendation system optimized around video discovery |
| Moderation pitch | Transparent, least-restrictive enforcement with appeals | Large-scale moderation under TikTok’s published policies |
| Creator economy | Monetization tools are described as planned | Established programs vary by country and eligibility |
| Platform maturity | Smaller and newer | Large global audience and advertiser ecosystem |
Someone looking specifically for an endless stream of highly optimized short videos may find UpScrolled underwhelming. It is more accurately described as a general social network with video capabilities.
Does UpScrolled use an algorithm?
UpScrolled markets chronological or user-controlled feeds and positions that approach as an alternative to opaque recommendation systems. That does not necessarily mean every screen is strictly chronological or that the service uses no ranking technology at all.
A large social network may still need ranking, filtering or recommendation systems for topic pages, notifications, search, discovery and moderation. “No hidden suppression” is a company promise, not proof that no algorithmic processing exists anywhere in the product. Readers should distinguish between control over the main feed and the complete absence of automated ranking.
What does “free speech” or “no censorship” mean?
UpScrolled’s free-expression language does not mean that the platform is unmoderated. Its Community Guidelines prohibit or restrict categories including:
- Threats and harassment.
- Hate and exploitation.
- Child sexual abuse material.
- Fraud and deceptive conduct.
- Doxxing and illegal activity.
- Deceptive deepfakes and other harmful content.
The company says enforcement can include labels, content removal, suspensions and account termination. Users can report material, and some moderation decisions can be appealed.
Rank #3
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
The meaningful comparison is therefore not “moderation versus no moderation.” It is whether the rules are clear, whether enforcement is consistent, whether harmful material is addressed effectively and whether users receive a meaningful appeal process. “Censorship-free” should be treated as promotional language, not a literal description of the service.
Is UpScrolled private?
UpScrolled says it does not sell or trade users’ personal information to external parties, use personal data to build surveillance profiles or use user data to train AI models. Those claims do not mean the service collects no data.
Its privacy policy says the platform may collect information such as:
- Display name, account handle and email address.
- Month and year of birth.
- IP address, device and operating-system details.
- Browser and connection information.
- Usage and interaction data.
- Approximate location inferred from an IP address.
- Precise location when a user voluntarily adds a location tag.
- Information processed through analytics and service providers.
The practical distinction is simple: not selling data is not the same as collecting no data. Anyone considering the service should read the current privacy policy and avoid posting sensitive information publicly.
Is UpScrolled safe?
Technical and privacy safety
According to the FAQ, data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and passwords are hashed using modern cryptographic techniques. The company also acknowledges that no system can guarantee absolute security.
Public posts are not end-to-end encrypted because they are intended to be publicly visible. Optional end-to-end encryption for private messages is described as planned, not necessarily available. UpScrolled should therefore not be treated as a replacement for a dedicated encrypted messenger.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Content safety
The platform has published rules, reporting tools and an appeals process. However, a free-expression positioning can attract controversial, misleading or extremist material. UpScrolled’s terms and FAQ make clear that the company does not guarantee the accuracy of user-generated content. Posts should not automatically be treated as verified news.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Operational reliability
UpScrolled’s rapid growth has already exposed operational challenges. The company said Google Play suspended the app on February 14, 2026, citing a period of moderation difficulty during its expansion. It announced a return to Google Play on February 20.
The episode does not by itself prove that the app is unsafe, but it is relevant when judging whether a young platform is as stable as a mature service. App-store availability, moderation capacity and policies can change quickly.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where is UpScrolled available?
The official download page directs users to iOS and Android apps. The U.S. App Store listing supports iPhone and iPad and requires iOS 15.0 or later or iPadOS 15.0 or later. It also lists compatibility with certain Mac and Apple Vision hardware.
Availability varies by country, operating system and app-store status. Use the official website or your device’s official app store. Do not install an unverified APK simply because the app is unavailable in your region.
The platform’s terms and guidelines state that users must be at least 16.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Is UpScrolled free?
The U.S. App Store lists UpScrolled as free with in-app purchases. It showed verification purchase entries priced at $15 and $150 when checked, but the listing alone does not establish whether those prices represent monthly, annual or one-time plans.
An earlier product update described verification through monthly or annual subscriptions. The current terms say prices, durations and available plans can vary by country, platform and account; the price shown in the app at purchase controls. Confirm the price, renewal terms, duration and eligibility before paying.
Can creators make money on UpScrolled?
Not in the same established way as on TikTok. UpScrolled’s current FAQ says it plans to introduce creator monetization tools, including payouts, branded-content opportunities and ways for communities to support creators directly.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThat wording describes a future plan, not a guaranteed active creator fund. Creators may still use the platform for early audience-building, cross-posting, direct community contact and experimentation, but they should not join expecting immediate income or a mature advertising ecosystem.
There is also no evidence in the supplied sources of automatic TikTok account migration, universal creator migration, or the transfer of TikTok drafts, followers, audience data or monetization balances.
Reasons to try UpScrolled
- You want to test an independent alternative after TikTok’s ownership change.
- You prefer a platform that emphasizes privacy and user control.
- You want text, images, video and topic discovery in one service.
- You are interested in activist, political or community-oriented conversations.
- You want to establish an early presence on a smaller network.
- You value published rules and an appeals process.
Reasons not to switch completely
- It is not a proven one-for-one replacement for TikTok’s short-video ecosystem.
- Its content supply, creator density and recommendation quality may be much smaller.
- Its major user-count figures are primarily company-reported.
- Creator monetization is still described as planned.
- Policies, pricing and availability are evolving.
- Smaller platforms can have uneven moderation and more concentrated controversial content.
- The Google Play suspension shows that rapid growth has created operational friction.
Bottom line
UpScrolled is best viewed as a new, independent, multi-format social network that benefited from the search for alternatives after TikTok’s January 2026 U.S. ownership change. It is not simply “the new TikTok,” and it does not offer a completely unmoderated or data-free experience.
For curious users, downloading it through an official app store and testing it alongside existing platforms is reasonable. For TikTok creators, it may offer an additional audience channel, but its smaller ecosystem and planned—not established—monetization mean it should not yet replace a mature platform.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
