BackgroundChina has a large population of smokers, with half of them dependent on tobacco and in need of cessation assistance, indicating the need for mobile health (mHealth) to provide cessation support. ObjectiveThe study aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of combining chatbot-led support with counselor-led support for smoking cessation among community smokers in China. MethodsThis is a 2-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial nested in a smoke-free campus campaign in Zhuhai, China. All participants will receive brief face-to-face cessation advice and group cessation support led by a chatbot embedded in WeChat. In addition, participants in the intervention group will receive personalized WeChat-based counseling from trained counselors. Follow-up will occur at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment initiation. The primary smoking outcome is bioverified abstinence (exhaled carbon monoxide