QQ: The Popular Chinese Super App (And How to Get It for Free)
Have you heard of QQ? If you live outside of China, maybe not. But this messaging and social media app is hugely popular, with over 600 million active monthly users as of 2024. Developed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, QQ (originally called OICQ) launched way back in 1999, making it one of the pioneering instant messaging platforms.
While it began as a simple chat service, over the years QQ has expanded into an all-in-one "super app" that also allows users to play games, stream video and music, shop online, make payments, and much more. It‘s become an integral part of daily digital life in China.
Most of QQ‘s core features, including messaging, voice/video calls, newsfeed posting, and many mini-games and tools are completely free to use. However, dedicated users may want to upgrade to a premium QQ membership for perks and bonus features. In this post, we‘ll go over what a paid QQ subscription gets you, how to set up a free account, and some ways you may be able to get a membership at no cost.
QQ Premium Memberships: What Do You Get?
QQ offers several different paid membership tiers, each with their own set of benefits:
- Red Diamond: Color-coded account name in chat and user profile
- Yellow Diamond: Extra cloud storage space for files, photos, and videos
- Blue Diamond: Special abilities and privileges in certain QQ games
- Purple Diamond: More in-game benefits for selected titles
- Green Diamond: Access to advanced features in QQ Music streaming service
- Pink Diamond: Boosts and bonuses for the QQ Pet virtual pet game
- VIP: Extra emoji, themes, and chat customization options
- Black Diamond: Perks for the popular Fantasy Westward Journey online RPG
As you can see, the membership bonuses cater to specific interests like gaming, music, or personalization. Prices for these subscriptions range from around $2-3 per month up to about $20 per month for the top Black Diamond tier.
For the casual user just looking to message friends and family, a free QQ account covers the basic functionality. But if you‘re an avid mobile gamer, want to deck out your QQ profile, or need more storage, a premium membership may be worthwhile.
How to Create a Free QQ Account
Signing up for a regular QQ account is a simple process:
On your phone, download the QQ app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Alternatively, visit https://im.qq.com on your computer.
Click the "Sign Up" button and enter your phone number. QQ will send a verification code via SMS.
Enter the code and create a username and password for your new account. You can also add a profile picture and other optional info.
Agree to the terms of service and select "Sign Up Now" to complete the registration.
Start finding and adding contacts by searching for their QQ number, importing from your phone contacts, or using the "People Nearby" location-based feature.
Once you have a QQ account, you can use it to log into the app on multiple devices. The signup method does require a valid phone number for verification purposes, but the service itself is free to use.
While some users look for "free QQ accounts" online, we advise against using shared accounts created by someone else. Not only is it a violation of QQ‘s terms to share accounts, but it also poses security and privacy risks. You don‘t know who else has access to that account and what they may do with your personal conversations and information. Always create your own QQ account.
Tips for Getting a QQ Membership Without Paying
If you want the benefits of QQ‘s premium tiers but don‘t want to pay for a subscription, there are a few potential ways to earn a membership for free or at a heavy discount:
Sign up for survey and rewards sites like Survey Junkie, LifePoints, or Inbox Dollars. Many of these platforms allow you to earn gift cards or cash by completing online surveys, watching ads, playing games, or shopping through affiliate links. You can then redeem your earnings for QQ membership time or the required Diamonds/QCoins virtual currency.
Take advantage of limited time promos from QQ. Follow their official social media accounts and opt-in for marketing emails to get notified of any special offers, contests, or giveaways for free or discounted subscriptions.
Keep an eye out for bundled promotions. Sometimes QQ will partner with other brands or services to offer a premium membership as a bonus incentive. For example, buying a new phone, signing up for a particular mobile plan, or subscribing to another Tencent service may come with a complimentary QQ VIP membership.
If you‘re a student, check if your school has a partnership with QQ to provide free premium accounts to enrolled students as an educational resource.
These methods may not be guaranteed or always available, but it‘s worth looking out for these special offers if you want to experience QQ‘s extra features without spending money.
Are There Any Good Alternatives to QQ?
While QQ is incredibly popular in China, international users may find more globally-focused social and messaging apps more suitable. If you‘re not based in China and mainly want to stay connected with friends/family there, you could consider these alternatives:
- WeChat: QQ‘s "sister app" is even more popular with over 1 billion users and has similar all-in-one functionality. Many consider WeChat the better choice for cross-border communication.
- Line: Developed by a Japanese subsidiary of South Korean internet giant Naver, Line is a full-featured messaging app popular in many East Asian countries.
- Whatsapp: Now owned by Facebook/Meta, Whatsapp is the most widely used messaging service in the world. It offers simple, reliable, and secure communication.
- Facebook Messenger: While not as popular in China, Facebook‘s chat service is used by billions worldwide and has business-friendly features.
For more domestic use within China, there‘s also Sina Weibo (similar to Twitter) and Douyin (TikTok‘s Chinese equivalent).
Many of these apps offer a free tier that covers core features, with optional paid subscriptions for extras. You can test them out to see which interface and functionality you prefer. It‘s also a good idea to find out what services your friends and contacts are primarily using to communicate.
The Bottom Line on QQ and Free Accounts
QQ is a pioneering social media service that‘s evolved into a huge multi-function platform, especially popular in China. While many of its essential features are available for free, frequent users may want to purchase a premium membership for bonuses and perks related to games, customization, and other tools.
There are some legit ways to potentially earn a free QQ subscription, such as through survey sites, special promotions, or educational offers. However, we strongly caution against using shared accounts or login details posted online, as this poses major security and privacy risks. It‘s against QQ‘s terms of service and leaves your personal information open to strangers.
If QQ‘s paid membership perks don‘t seem worth it to you, the app still provides a ton of functionality in its free version, including messaging, posting, voice/video calls, file sharing, and more. You can also check out alternative chat apps like WeChat, Line, or Whatsapp to see if they better suit your social and communication needs.
Ultimately, the choice between a free or premium QQ account depends on your intended usage and which bonus features matter most to your experience. Whichever you choose, QQ remains a powerful platform for staying connected, entertained, and informed.
