Doubao Launches Three-Tier Subscription as China's 'Token Factory' Model Accelerates

Doubao, China’s biggest AI chatbot by monthly active users, launched three paid plans on the Apple App Store at 68, 200, and 500 yuan a month.

The paid tiers target heavier-use features like presentation creation, data analysis, and video production, while the free version remains for everyday chat.

The move reflects a wider shift in China and globally toward token-based, usage-based AI billing rather than pure user-growth strategies.

It also shows China’s AI app market moving more clearly toward direct monetization, with productivity-heavy tasks becoming a key revenue driver.