Zhihu++ is an Android client for Zhihu that prioritizes user privacy, personal rights, and an ad-free experience. It offers a significantly reduced footprint (3MB) compared to the official client and leverages AI and a unique local recommendation algorithm to give users control over their content feed, freeing them from algorithmic manipulation.

How It Works

The core innovation is a proprietary local recommendation algorithm that operates independently of Zhihu's servers. This algorithm relies on crawlers and allows extensive customization of recommendation weights, ensuring users see content they genuinely desire. This approach aims to empower users by returning control over their digital consumption away from corporate algorithms. Additionally, it incorporates AI-powered content filtering and NLP embedding for advanced blocking capabilities.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: Downloadable binary/APK (link provided in README).
• Prerequisites: Android OS. Significantly reduced footprint (3MB) compared to the official 110MB+ client.
• Links: Download link, Roadmap.

Highlighted Details

• Comprehensive ad, promotion, and sales content filtering.
• Local recommendation engine with customizable weights and independent of Zhihu's algorithm.
• AI-powered content blocking and NLP embedding for advanced filtering.
• Support for zse96 v2 signature algorithm, enabling access to ~99% of web APIs.
• Features include multi-method login, read-aloud, watermark-free image saving, and QR code scanning for data extraction.

Maintenance & Community

The project welcomes contributions via Pull Requests (PRs) and acknowledges it is still under development ("not yet perfect"). A roadmap is available. No specific community channels (Discord, Slack) or major contributor/sponsorship details are provided in the README.

Licensing & Compatibility

The project explicitly states it is "not free software in the classic sense," with details available in its specific license agreement. This non-standard licensing may impose restrictions on commercial use or integration with closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

The project is explicitly stated as "not yet perfect" and under active development. The proprietary, non-standard license is a significant caveat, potentially limiting adoption and integration compared to projects with conventional open-source licenses.