Amazon launched a feature called "Amazon Inspire," a short video feed similar to TikTok. Now, TikTok has launched a shopping app modeled after Amazon's e-commerce segment.

Amazon and TikTok

Amazon and TikTok are locked in a bitter feud between these two tech companies. It's being called "The Great E-Commerce and Social Copycat War" in the tech world, with both companies trying to capture each other's core businesses. It was initiated by Amazon, which used TikTok's short-video format to promote its products. Amazon noticed that today's younger generation is increasingly using videos to make purchases, rather than searching for products through traditional methods. Consequently, the company launched a feature called "Amazon Inspire."

Amazon Inspire was launched to allow users to shop while watching videos within the app. It worked similarly to TikTok Reels, allowing users to swipe through short vertical videos and photos one after another. However, when the company didn't see much success with this feature, it officially discontinued the Amazon Inspire feature on February 18, 2025. This feature was within Amazon's mobile shopping app.

Now TikTok has taken revenge.

TikTok is developing a separate shopping platform called "TikTok Shop," which will compete with Amazon's main e-commerce business. The ByteDance-owned company has quietly launched it in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The app is available on Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms.

Like Amazon, the app features a search bar, cart, and catalog where you can directly search and purchase items. Furthermore, TikTok, like Amazon, has now established its own warehouses. The company has also developed packaging and a delivery chain to ensure sellers' goods are delivered directly to customers.