There are estimated to 250 billion mobile app downloads per year globally. Given such high numbers of users on social media, there’s a tendency to associate app usage with Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and similar social apps. While social media is indeed one of the frontrunners, what are the most popular app genres worldwide?
1. Gaming
Mobile games are incredibly popular, to the extent they’ve spawned an entire industry based on supplementation to help you play better. And various countries, a notable example being China, are wrestling with the societal impact of video game addiction. Over 150 billion mobile game apps are expected to be downloaded in 2024. Popular mobile app games include Monopoly Go!, Help Me: Tricky Story, Roblox, Twisted Tangle and Royal Match.
2. Photo & Video
In second place are photo and video apps, which are expected to be downloaded 31 billion times in 2024. These include photo and video editing apps that are highly sought after by content creators and editors who need intuitive and easy-to-use apps in a social media ecosystem where influencers are regularly burning out and content creation is often perceived as being an easy job. Storage apps such as Google Photos and Amazon Photos are also useful for those who take a lot of images and footage lack sufficient storage space on their devices.
3. Utilities
For many people, utilities are an almost hidden app genre simply because we expect a mobile phone to have a calendar and clock. Over the years, mobile phones have evolved from focusing on calls and messaging to becoming multifunctional devices that incorporate features of various tools such as torches and calculators. Over 20 billion utility apps are expected to be downloaded in 2024.
4. Entertainment
Who needs a TV or a radio (remember those!?) when you have a mobile? Popular entertainment apps include Netflix, Spotify, Disney+ and Hulu, and the genre is expected to account for 14 billion downloads in 2024.
5. Social Media
Social media apps are expected to be downloaded 12.8 billion times in 2024 and this is projected to rise to 14.7 billion in 2027. Downloads consist of existing social media giants that will experience continued user growth along with new social media platforms looking to take advantage of those looking for a different ‘social’ experience. Although the future of social media is uncertain, with heavyweights such as Instagram facing stiff competition and hype of the metaverse ebbing and flowing, traditional text-based apps such as Threads have proven to be popular and the creator economy is expected to keep growing.
6. Music
Remember that ancient device we mentioned above? The radio. Well, there used to be other devices that played music too. They went by the names of CD player, Walkman, mp3 player, MiniDisc, iPod. These are now relics of the past. We listen to music on our mobiles. Music apps are expected to be downloaded 9.3 billion times in 2024. Popular music apps include Spotify, SoundCloud and Apple Music.
7. Productivity
A corporate battle is underway among those quiet quitting and corporate management trying to wrestle back the bargaining power they once had. Within this complex web of negotiations is the ‘hustle culture’ demographic who feel you need to work, work, work at least 13 hours a day to achieve your goals. In addition, there are those who just want to procrastinate less and be more productive. Productivity apps such as Trello, Todoist and Pocket are expected to be downloaded 9 billion times in 2024.
8. Education
Education apps are expected to be downloaded 6.1 billion times. Popular downloads include DuoLingo, Google Classroom, Udemy and Khan Academy.
9. Lifestyle
Lifestyle apps such as Zillow, Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Amazon Alexa are expected to be downloaded 5.9 billion times in 2024. Despite a trend of people deciding to delete their dating apps, the lifestyle genre is projected to keep growing in the following years, reaching 6.9 billion in 2027.
10. Business
Business apps cover a wide spectrum from apps such as Indeed Job Search to Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Business apps are expected to be downloaded 4.7 billion times in 2024.
[Source of data: Statista Digital Market Insights]