What is XO? From Rooit to XO — the Story Behind Taiwan's Anonymous Social App
XO (formerly Rooit) is an anonymous social and dating app from Taiwan — matching people by how they feel instead of how they look. Since its founding, it has passed 1.5 million downloads, free on both the App Store and Google Play.
The most common question we get:
"Is XO the same app as Rooit?"
Yes — XO is Rooit. Same team, same app, same community. The rebrand happened in early 2024, which is why store listings still read "XO (formerly Rooit)".
Why the rename?
Rooit served the team well for six years, but going international exposed a real problem: non-Chinese speakers couldn't pronounce or remember it. The new name XO — as in hugs and kisses — is easy to say in any language, and happens to capture what the product is about: making warm human connection easier.
It worked. As reported by Meet by Business Next, traffic held steady through the rename while international App Store search volume grew.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Rooit founded — anonymous chat built around feelings |
| 2018–2023 | Becomes a favorite among Taiwanese students; passes 1M downloads |
| 2024 | Rebrands to XO; enters the Japanese market |
| 2025 | Launches AI chat copilot (Rizz Up, Witty Reply) and vibe-matching |
| 2026 | New home on the web: xoxo.space, plus web-based services |
Why Japan first?
Japanese internet culture fits XO's DNA: heavy X (Twitter) usage, comfort with faceless anonymous socializing, and willingness to pay for online services. XO's anonymity and short-message style match those habits naturally — a deliberately long-term bet.
XO today
FAQ
Who makes XO? Rooit Inc., a Taiwanese company founded in 2017.
Do old Rooit accounts still work? Yes — the rename changed nothing about accounts or data.
Is XO free? Download and core features are free; add-ons (Private Keys, membership) are optional.
Where can I get XO? App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android), or try the web chat first.
