ByteDance Launches Paid Subscriptions for AI Assistant Doubao

ByteDance is preparing to commercialize its AI assistant Doubao by introducing paid subscriptions in late June, according to sources close to the company. The final adjustments to the billing system for desktop and mobile versions are underway and are expected to take about a month.

Three subscription plans are already listed on the App Store: Standard at 68 yuan (approximately $9.40) per month, Advanced at 200 yuan ($27.70), and Professional at 500 yuan ($69.20). Paid features will include advanced business tools such as automated presentation generation, data analytics, and video content creation. Basic chatbot functionalities will remain free of charge.

In the third quarter, Doubao plans to expand its integration with ByteDance’s ecosystem, particularly with the Douyin platform (China’s version of TikTok). The focus will be on supporting e-commerce and driving traffic for commercial projects. By the fourth quarter, the product is expected to achieve stable operational performance.