{"id":19643,"date":"2024-06-24T11:48:27","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T03:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyond.qnycloud.com\/?post_type=blog&p=19643"},"modified":"2026-09-02T14:57:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T06:57:47","slug":"china-japan-useful-apps","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/beyond-shenzhen.cn\/en\/blog\/china-japan-useful-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"\u3010Expat\u3011Apps for Life, Work in China & Japan \u2013 Quick Reference"},"content":{"rendered":"

When living and working in China or Japan as an expatriate, one of the key concerns is the set of “apps” you use on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

However, since each country has its own unique culture and customs, the apps used on PCs and smartphones naturally differ as well.<\/p>\n

In this article, we have compiled a quick-reference comparison table, from our company’s perspective, highlighting some of the most useful apps for daily life and work\u2014aimed at expatriates stationed in both China and Japan.<\/p>\n

Apps for Daily Life, Work in China & Japan<\/h2>\n

Features of Apps Used in China<\/h3>\n
\"\"

< Scenery near our China headquarters ><\/center><\/p><\/div>\n

When Japanese companies (or Japanese expatriates) begin living and working in China, one of the first things they notice is that the apps commonly used there are completely different from those popular in Japan and other overseas countries.<\/p>\n

There are numerous apps with China\u2011specific ecosystems, such as WeChat and Alipay, which function as essential infrastructure for daily life and work in China.<\/p>\n

For example, taking trains and buses, hailing taxis, paying at restaurants, settling utility bills, booking hospital appointments, online shopping, and searching for information\u2014all of these can be done entirely via a smartphone and apps.<\/p>\n

In other words, without these apps, life and work in China would simply not be possible.<\/p>\n

Features of Apps Used in Japan<\/h3>\n
\"\"

< Scenery near our Japan headquarters ><\/center><\/p><\/div>\n

On the other hand, the app environment in Japan is vastly different from that in China, featuring a unique structure with a wide variety of apps coexisting.<\/p>\n

In Japan, US\u2011origin apps such as Google, Amazon, YouTube, and X hold a significant share, and in the fields of information search, video content, social media, and online shopping, these platforms have become the de facto standards.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Chinese\u2011origin apps like TikTok and WeChat are steadily expanding their user base and scope of use, making them increasingly indispensable in Japanese daily life and work as well.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, messaging app LINE, payment service PayPay, and e\u2011commerce platforms like Rakuten and Mercari continue to enjoy strong support from users as everyday essentials.<\/p>\n

As a result, since various apps coexist in Japan, it may take a little time for Chinese companies (or Chinese expatriates) to get used to this “app switching” when living and working in Japan.<\/p>\n

Quick Reference Table of Apps in China & Japan<\/h2>\n

This is a mutually corresponding quick reference table that allows expatriates in both China and Japan to compare and understand the apps at a glance.<\/p>\n

Please use it as a reference for your everyday app usage.<\/p>\n

\u2460 Examples of Useful Apps for Daily Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
App Category<\/span><\/td>\nMajor Apps Used in China<\/span><\/td>\nMajor Apps Used in Japan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Search Engines<\/td>\n\u30fbBaidu
\n\u30fb360 Search
\n\u30fbBing<\/td>\n		\u30fbGoogle Search
\n\u30fbYahoo! Search
\n\u30fbBing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Messaging Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbWeChat<\/td>\n\u30fbLINE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SNS (Information \/ News)<\/td>\n\u30fbWeibo<\/td>\n\u30fbX<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SNS (Video Content)<\/td>\n\u30fbBilibili
\n\u30fbDouyin<\/td>\n		\u30fbYouTube
\n\u30fbTikTok<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SNS (Lifestyle)<\/td>\n\u30fbRED (Xiaohongshu)<\/td>\n\u30fbInstagram
\n\u30fbFacebook<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Movies \/ Dramas \/ Anime<\/td>\n\u30fbBilibili
\n\u30fbYouku
\n\u30fbiQiyi
\n\u30fbTencent Video<\/td>\n		\u30fbYouTube
\n\u30fbNetflix
\n\u30fbAmazon Prime Video
\n\u30fbABEMA TV<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
App Platforms<\/td>\n\u30fbPlatforms provided by Android smartphone manufacturers
\n\u30fbApp Store<\/td>\n		\u30fbGoogle Play
\n\u30fbApp Store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mobile Payment<\/td>\n\u30fbAlipay
\n\u30fbWeChat Pay<\/td>\n		\u30fbPayPay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
E\u2011Commerce<\/td>\n\u30fbTaobao
\n\u30fbJD.com
\n\u30fbinduoduo
\n\u30fbDouyin<\/td>\n		\u30fbAmazon.co.jp
\n\u30fbRakuten
\n\u30fbYahoo! Shopping
\n\u30fbAliExpress
\n\u30fbTemu<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flea Market Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbXianyu<\/td>\n\u30fbMercari
\n\u30fbYahoo! Auctions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Map Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbAmap
\n\u30fbBaidu Maps<\/td>\n		\u30fbGoogle Maps
\n\u30fbNAVITIME<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ride\u2011Hailing Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbDiDi<\/td>\n\u30fbGO
\n\u30fbUber Taxi
\n\u30fbDiDi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Local Information \/ Reviews<\/td>\n\u30fbDianping
\n\u30fbMeituan<\/td>\n		\u30fbTabelog
\n\u30fbGURUNAVI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Food Delivery<\/td>\n\u30fbMeituan Waimai
\n\u30fbTaobao Flash Shopping<\/td>\n		\u30fbUber Eats
\n\u30fbDemae\u2011can<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Job Hunting Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbBoss Zhipin
\n\u30fbZhaopin
\n\u30fb51job
\n\u30fbLiepin<\/td>\n		\u30fbIndeed
\n\u30fbRikunabi NEXT
\n\u30fbTownwork<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Translation Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbYoudao Dictionary
\n\u30fbBaidu Translate<\/td>\n		\u30fbGoogle Translate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language Learning Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbDuolingo
\n\u30fbHelloTalk<\/td>\n		\u30fbDuolingo
\n\u30fbHelloTalk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mobile Carriers<\/td>\n\u30fbChina Telecom
\n\u30fbChina Mobile
\n\u30fbChina Unicom<\/td>\n		\u30fbNTT docomo
\n\u30fbKDDI (au)
\n\u30fbSoftBank<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Travel Booking (Overseas \/ Domestic)<\/td>\n\u30fbCtrip<\/td>\n\u30fbTrip.com<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Logistics \/ Delivery<\/td>\n\u30fbSF Express
\n\u30fbZTO Express
\n\u30fbYTO Express
\n\u30fbSTO Express<\/td>\n		\u30fbYamato Transport (Kuroneko)
\n\u30fbSagawa Express
\n\u30fbJapan Post (Yu\u2011Pack)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High\u2011Speed Rail Tickets<\/td>\n\u30fbRailway 12306<\/td>\n\u30fbSmartEX<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Public Transit Boarding Apps<\/td>\n\u30fbAlipay \/ WeChat boarding codes (e.g., “Chengche Ma”)<\/td>\n* There are linked apps based on IC cards<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delivery Lockers<\/td>\n\u30fbFengchao<\/td>\n* Not widely used as an app (mainly building\u2011installed lockers)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u2461 Examples of Useful Apps for Daily Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
App Category<\/span><\/td>\nMajor Apps Used in China<\/span><\/td>\nMajor Apps Used in Japan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Integrated Business Platforms<\/td>\n\u30fbWeCom
\n\u30fbDingTalk<\/td>\n		\u30fbMicrosoft 365
\n\u30fbGoogle Workspace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Document Creation \/ Office Software<\/td>\n\u30fbWPS 365<\/td>\n\u30fbMicrosoft 365
\n\u30fbGoogle Workspace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chat Tools<\/td>\n\u30fbWeCom
\n\u30fbDingTalk<\/td>\n		\u30fbSlack
\n\u30fbChatwork
\n\u30fbMicrosoft Teams
\n\u30fbGoogle Workspace (Google Chat)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Web Email<\/td>\n\u30fbAlibaba Mail<\/td>\n\u30fbGoogle Workspace (Gmail)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online Meetings<\/td>\n\u30fbTencent Meeting
\n\u30fbDing Talk Meet
\n\u30fbWeCom Meet<\/td>\n		\u30fbZoom
\n\u30fbMicrosoft Teams
\n\u30fbGoogle Workspace (Google Meet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online Storage<\/td>\n\u30fbBaidu Wangpan<\/td>\n\u30fbGoogle Workspace (Google Drive)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Business Card Management<\/td>\n\u30fbCamCard
\n\u30fbCamScanner<\/td>\n		\u30fbEight
\n\u30fbSansan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online Contract Management<\/td>\n\u30fbeSign<\/td>\n\u30fbDocusign<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Generative AI Tools<\/td>\n\u30fbDeepseek
\n\u30fbDoubao
\n\u30fbQwen<\/td>\n		\u30fbChatGPT
\n\u30fbGoogle Gemini<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Summary<\/h2>\n

When stationed in both China and Japan, the apps you use in daily life and work may differ. The key is to embrace these differences flexibly and enjoy the change.<\/p>\n

We hope this article helps enrich your daily life and business activities in both countries.<\/p>\n

Related Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Cloud Business System<\/span><\/td>\nhttps:\/\/beyond-shenzhen.cn\/en\/service\/development<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
China Market Entry Solutions<\/span><\/td>\nhttps:\/\/beyond-shenzhen.cn\/en\/service\/china-market-entry<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When living and working in China or Japan as an expatriate, one of the key concerns is the set of “apps” you use on a daily basis. However, since each country has its own unique culture and customs, the apps used on PCs and smartphones naturally differ as well. In this article, we have compiled […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26885,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/beyond-shenzhen.cn\/?p=905"},"tags":[],"blogcat":[14],"class_list":["post-19643","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blogcat-other","en-US"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t