Neptune, a promising new short-form video app, aims to compete directly with established platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Currently in beta, Neptune has already garnered significant user interest, reporting around 970 active beta testers and an impressive waitlist of over 400,000 potential users eager to explore the experience.
The company announced on Monday plans to officially release Neptune in the App Store within the coming week, with an anticipated Android release on Google Play approximately six months later.
Founded by Ashley Darling, a former talent director at the influencer agency OPTYX, Neptune was born out of Darling’s efforts to build a space emphasizing creativity rather than competitive metrics. “For years, both as an influencer and in managing partnerships, I continuously heard from creators and audiences who missed when social media was centered around fun and authentic creativity rather than numbers,” Darling explained. Frustrated by the lack of platforms responding adequately, she decided to construct her own alternative.
Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s regulatory future, Neptune aims to attract creators seeking new and more meaningful avenues for online visibility and monetization. The app intends to support multiple revenue channels, including tipping, subscriptions, and livestreaming opportunities.
The Neptune experience follows the familiar vertical video feed model, allowing users to discover engaging short-form content and interact through comments. To further enhance user profiles, Neptune lets users set custom cover images, similar to the profile-focused designs found on other social and content-sharing platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
One distinctive aspect of Neptune is its optional “ghost metrics” feature, enabling creators to conceal their follower and like counts. Intended to relieve social pressure tied to these metrics, this feature is flexible enough for those who wish to showcase their follower figures publicly. Additionally, Neptune’s proprietary algorithm is structured around surface content based on user preferences and content quality rather than traditional measures of popularity and engagement. This strategy seeks to elevate smaller creators and “micro-influencers” who often struggle to gain visibility on traditional platforms.
Reflecting the company’s commitment to creator-first digital social spaces, Timur Tugberk, Neptune’s chief marketing officer, emphasized the application’s mission, stating, “We wanted to restore power to creators, who truly built and fostered the internet community. Neptune emphasizes genuine connections over superficial clout.”
Another innovative function is Neptune’s “Hop Back” feature, designed to ensure users don’t lose their viewing progress even if the app refreshes or restarts, allowing them to seamlessly pick up videos from precisely where they left off.
While Neptune’s beta version is relatively streamlined—currently limited to a video feed and basic search capabilities—developers are working actively on introducing new functionalities. Upcoming additions include in-app video editing tools, direct messaging, livestreaming capability, music integrations, and the option to construct personal playlists.
